WCCM Oblate Blog: Reflections from Daily Reading of the Rule of St. Benedict

WCCM Benedictine Oblates are encouraged to read a designated portion of the Rule daily, and to write a brief, personal response. I hope that this blog will support our Oblate community in this practice. Please, keep blog entries brief and in a first-person ("I") voice. Refrain from discussing, offering an opinion, or commenting on other entries. Simply consider how a particular section of the Rule is speaking to you in your present circumstances.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Chapter 58: The reception of candidates for the community (paragraphs 1-3)

The entry of postulants into the monastic life should not be made too easy, but we should follow St John's precept to make trial of the spirits to see if they are from God.

(From para. 1 of Ch. 58 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)

My daily spiritual practice, especially meditation, is the essential aspect of my day. And yet, it seems that perhaps I'm not supposed to get too attached to my practice. God challenges me with chaos, and asks if I can seek God in those conditions, too.

2 comments:

val latonaDecember 11, 2012 at 4:40 AM
One needs time to "test the spirits to see if they are from God." By giving myself over to time, I allow God to work in the everyday. Daily events, words and actions of others sometimes have a way of communicating the will of God. Meditation clears the heart to "see" that Will with faith and love.
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Roger SessionsDecember 11, 2012 at 6:34 PM
"Do not grant newcomers to the monastic life an easy entry."

As John Main says, the life we have been called to is simple. But it isn't easy.
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